1 Timothy 3:1-13 - Qualifications for Service

1 Timothy 3:1-13

Qualifications of Overseers

1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Qualifications of Deacons

8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Qualifications for elders and deacons are clearly specified in this passage of God’s word to guide churches in selecting men according to God’s standards of qualities to be fit to serve God and man in local bodies.  Though these should be chosen (Titus 1:5) and not self-elected by the candidates, there should be a genuine desire to aspire to that trying work with all humility.  The qualities which God presents to us include a blameless life, unhindered by scandal or hidden doubts of godliness; the husband of one wife, likely meaning monogamous and not necessarily married previously; self-controlled, sober and circumspect with both alcohol and other forms of selfish desire; having good behavior, which includes being hospitable to others to demonstrate God’s mark of love in them for the body they serve; not violently reacting to others, in words or actions; not out to get rich as if serving the Lord was for personal gain; all the while being gentle in spirit and not always arguing or looking to gain what others have as if in comparison or competition to inflate one’s position seen by others.  The list adds that this life should be echoed in the family life with orderly upbringing of their children that the same attention and loving care be demonstrated in the body to deal with sin and not with a laze fair attitude with a complete lack of discipline and order for the good of others and not just to make them happy.  This also means that the person be experienced by walking with the Lord for a number of years until sufficient sanctification has worked spiritual maturity into the life.  Those who are spiritually immature can much more easily fall into the devil’s trap of deception by pride, as we see in Eden’s Garden (Genesis 3:4-5, 6-7) when lack of knowledge and understanding led to doubting God’s word of clear command and acting contrarily in sinful disobedience.  For those seemingly mature enough, the test must be made to also be certain there are no bad testimonies from those outside the church in the world who reveal bad or ungodly behavior.  A man must not be one who puts on an act in the church and acts differently outside when not in view of fellow believers.  This hypocrisy is a clear indicator that the man should not be put in a position of responsibility in the church, which only leads to being snared by the adversary and bringing shame on God’s name.  These qualities in verses 8-13 are similar for deacons who serve just as much as for the elders who lead and shepherd the flock in the verses described and prescribed so far in this chapter.  Deacon servants are to be reverent with a attitude of the awe and holiness of the Lord that they may echo that character in their conduct.  Speaking truthfully and not drinking too much, not greedy for personal gain, and having a pure conscience (Acts 24:16, 2 Corinthians 1:12, 1 Timothy 1:5, 1 Peter 3:16) are all needed to hold to the mystery of the gospel by faith in practice and not shame God’s name.  Their wives must likewise hold to the same character as they support and help their husbands as they do God’s work; if they love in opposition to this, they can become as Eve who was deceived (2 Corinthians 11:3, 1 Timothy 2:13-14) and led Adam astray with her into disbelief and disobedience to God’s word.  The other qualifying traits are the same as for the elder shepherds and this work for the Lord then leads to a bold faith to share the witness of God’s work in them as a testament to the gospel’s power and truth to save from the judgment of God’s wrath to come (Matthew 3:7, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Revelation 6:17) on the hearers and observers of them.  These qualities that qualify for service to the Lord in His house are essential to the work of the gospel!